Students at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine have organized a week-long set of activities designed to promote awareness of GLBT health and community issues, kicking the week off with a free health fair on Sunday, April 13 at the First Universalist Church of Nashville, 1808 Woodmont Blvd.

The health fair, sponsored by Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and School of Nursing, along with Nashville CARES and Metro Public Health Department, will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. and offer STD/HIV testing, blood pressure screening, BMI screening, Glaucoma and vision screening, stress reduction therapies and more.

“We’ve organized a great health fair and we want to make sure the community will take advantage of this opportunity,” said Demetrios Tavoulareas, a second year student at Vanderbilt’s School of Medicine and a leader of the VMS (Vanderbilt Medical School) Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA).

Tavoulareas said the health fair was the first of a set of week-long events, which are free and open to the public. It is the first-time the students have organized a formal week of activities.

Guest speakers have been scheduled for the entire week from the Noon to 1 p.m. hour, with topics ranging from the threat of a ban on same-sex adoption in Tennessee to working with the media on GLBT issues.

A variety of local experts will speak during the week, including Bradley Bullock, MD; Teri Sogol, LCSW; Scott Rodgers, MD; Reverend Elise Elrod; Chris Sanders, Pres, Tennessee Equality Project; Sarah Fogel, PhD; Abby Rubenfeld, JD; Jerry Jones, MPA, VU Senior Information Officer; Brent Meredith, Host and Producer, Out & About Today on NewsChannel 5; Scott Arnold, Anchor/Reporter NewsChannel 5; Joe Morris, President, National Lesbian and Gay Journalism Association.

“The week includes a week of panels, presentation and discussions about important LGBT issues,” he explained. “Events are scheduled be in Light Hall on the Vanderbilt campus. All events are free and open to the public.”

Tavoulareas said he had found the Vanderbilt medical school to be a safe place where he could be himself.

“I have been very interested in LGBT rights, health, and social issues,” he said. “I have found the Vanderbilt medical community to be a very open and accepting place for people of all backgrounds, and am thrilled to be a part of the GSA. The Alliance not only provides a way for students and faculty to help educate each other and express their thoughts and support for LGBT health issues, but strives to break down the invisible barriers that exist around sexual orientation.”

The VMS GSA has a two-fold mission: to educate the greater Vanderbilt medical community on health issues that pertain to GLBT patients and health care providers and to provide a support network for GLBT medical students.

“We are striving to provide an open, welcoming, and gay-friendly environment at our medical school,” Tavoulareas said.

“We’ve got an exceptional week of great topics and great speakers that we hope the Vanderbilt and Middle Tennessee community will take part and enjoy,” he said.

A complete schedule of the week, along with the locations:

• Sunday, April 13
  LGBT Health Fair: sponsored by Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and School of Nursing
  First Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashville, 1808 Woodmont Blvd, 2 – 6pm
• Monday, April 14
  Light Hall Room 208, 12-1 pm
  Family Matters: Discussing the threat to same-sex adoption in TN;
  Bradley Bullock, MD; Teri Sogol, LCSW; Scott Rodgers, MD
• Tuesday, April 15
  Light Hall Room 202, 12-1 pm
  Language Matters: Transgender health and awareness
  Reverend Elise Elrod
• Wednesday, April 16
  Light Hall Room 407, 12-1 pm
  Open Discussion Forum: The Nashville LGBT community: health, rights, and beyond
  Chris Sanders, president, Tennessee Equality Project; Sarah Fogel, Ph.D.
• Thursday, April 17
  Light Hall Room 202, 12-1 pm
  Protecting LGBT Families and Civil Unions
  Abby Rubenfeld, J.D.
  *6pm - Movie showing: Torchsong Trilogy, LGBT Resource Office
• Friday, April 18
  Light Hall Room 214, 12-1 pm
  Improving Relations From Within: Discussion on the Media's Representation of the LGBT Community
  Jerry Jones, MPA, VU Senior Information Officer; Brent Meredith, Host and Producer, Out & About Today on NewsChannel 5; Scott Arnold, Anchor/Reporter NewsChannel 5; Joe Morris, president, National Lesbian and Gay Journalism Association